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Do I need a lawyer for driving without a license?
I forgot to grab my wallet on the way out the door and I was pulled over by the police, who ticketed me for driving without a license. Do I need a lawyer to fight this ticket?
Jason Tushinski · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
We can all be forgetful every now and then, but anytime you are caught driving without a license, it is probably a good idea to consult an attorney. After all, it is illegal to drive without a license in every state.
While accidentally heading off to an appointment and forgetting your wallet is one thing, knowingly driving without a license—or with a suspended or revoked license—is much more serious. This is a misdemeanor in most states, and a conviction for driving without a license can show up on your criminal record.
- Correctable offenses: If you do have a valid license and you did just forget your wallet on the way out the door, you’ll likely be issued a fix-it ticket. This allows you to prove at a later date that you fixed the issue (i.e., prove you have a valid license) and will almost certainly see the citation removed from your driving record.
- Willful violations: If you knowingly drove around without a valid license because it is suspended, revoked, or you were never licensed in the first place, and then you got caught? Well, that’s a problem. In most states, driving without a license is a misdemeanor, and you could face jail time if convicted.
Of course, the penalties for driving without a license vary from state to state. If it was an honest oversight, you’ll likely be able to resolve the matter quickly with the help of a lawyer. If you willfully drove without a license, you’ll almost certainly need legal assistance to deal with the consequences.
Seeking out legal help is a matter of protecting yourself. Another way you can protect yourself? With a robust
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Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.
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